Mangaluru
As the election approaches, significant inconvenience is faced by taxi and maxi cab owners, as mandated by the district administration for election-related tasks. Summer, typically a busy season for taxi and maxi cab operators, sees increased demand due to school holidays, family vacations, and traditional religious rituals occurring during March, April, and May.
The failure of the district administration to pay taxi rents on time results in losses for taxi owners. During the last assembly elections in May 2023, 276 taxis, 303 buses, and 171 maxi cabs were utilized by the district administration. However, most taxi owners were paid their rents after eight months. In response, the District Taxi and Maxi Cab Association wrote to the Election Commission, demanding settlement of outstanding payments, threatening to withhold vehicles for the Lok Sabha elections. Subsequently, the EC released the rental payments.
Deputy commissioner (DC) Mullai Muhilan stated that there were no pending rental payments for vehicles used in the last assembly elections. However, Ananda Gowda, president of the Dakshina Kannada Taximen and Maxi Cab Association, mentioned that in rural areas, some taxi owners are still awaiting payment.
Taxis and maxi cabs are hired for election duty separately by the offices of DC, SP, and tahsildars, he said. Vehicles should be hired through the DC office, which should ensure prompt payment, he added.
